interior-decorating-ideas.com

There’s no slowing down Mary Cordes of Hayden Lake, Idaho. The 85-year-old recently came out of retirement only two years after ending her life-long career. “I closed down the art gallery and framing shop I had run for 25 years back in 2006, thinking it was time to retire, but retirement just didn’t agree with me,” she says. “I went stir crazy.”

Retro Sun Sunburst Wall Mirror with Contemporary Circles

List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $59.22
You Save: $20.77 (26%)

Features:
• Sun Mirror
• Contemporary Design
• Perfect for Any Room
• Unique & Wonderful

So she decided to open a new art gallery on a smaller scale. It was originally supposed to go up in her backyard, but instead ended up on the site where her old home once stood. “I used to live in a house on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, but it burned down in 2005. We were planning to rebuild, but then my husband died and it became too much for me to handle on my own, so I changed my plans.”

Before the fire, she had planned to set up a backyard pottery studio next to the lake inside a yurt — a portable, tent-like structure with circular lattice walls and a cone-shaped roof supported by rafters that meet a center ring. But with the house and her husband gone, she decided to make it into something more: an art studio/gallery where local artists, including herself, would be able to gather, customers could come to find unique pieces, and everyone could enjoy the scenery.

The majority of people who purchase a yurt are putting them on vacation properties and some in remote areas where they were only going to be used for a portion of the year. However, Mark Altmann of Rainier Industries, a leading manufacturer of yurts, indicates that recently there have been a lot of people buying them to expand living space instead of adding on to their homes. Among the more common uses for yurts: as a guest house, home office, secluded spa enclosure, art, music or fitness studio.

“They make a lot of sense from a cost savings perspective,” says Altmann. “Starting at just $5,500 for a 16-foot structure, they are an affordable alternative for people who want to add living space, but are on a tight budget.” The average home addition now costing upwards of $78,000, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2007 Cost vs. Value Report.

Cordes spent about $15,000 on the Eagle Yurt she purchased from Rainier in late 2007. The structure is 30-feet in diameter, which offers plenty of room for her gallery. “I got help from my son and we got the structure up in November right before the snow came,” she says. “As soon as the snow melts and temperatures warm up, we’re going to add on a deck overlooking the lake, and an entryway. I’m also going to move in the easels and partisans where the artwork will be put on display.” Cordes plans to open her new business in the late spring or early summer.

Ah, the model home – it’s not just a selling tool for builders. In many ways, model homes are the perfect portrait of the American Dream, with their manicured lawns, gourmet kitchens and designer window treatments. The model home is what we all aspire to have our homes look like.

World Map Subject Poster Print, 36x24

Buy New: $4.98 (On sale from $5.98)

The reality, however, can be far different from the ideal; living in the perfection of a model home may not be realistic for most of us. The good news is there are many ways you can borrow some model home tricks for your own abode – and boost your home’s value, and your enjoyment of it, in the process.

Here are five tricks model home makers and decorators use to create the feeling of real estate Nirvana:

* Curb appeal is king. If you mother didn’t tell you this while growing up, home shopping or selling will certainly teach you the lesson: first impressions count. Nothing sends buyers running for cover faster than a shabby exterior, so power wash siding every spring and take care of needed repairs like dangling shutters or peeling paint. Keep the grass mowed and flowers flourishing during the summer. If you don’t have a green thumb, plant easy-care flowers like petunias to add pizzazz to your landscaping.

* Add designer touches that impart the biggest impact for the least amount of money, such as a wallpaper mural. Custom murals are all the rage in design circles and are popping up in model homes across the country. But hiring someone to paint a custom mural is probably out of the budget for most of us. Wallpaper murals, like those manufactured by Murals Your Way, can provide the same designer effect at a fraction of the cost. What’s more, installation is quick and easy. Most homeowners can tackle the project on their own.

* Keep the rooms clean. If you’re selling your house, keeping rooms clean and clutter-free is a priority. Homebuyers rank dirty rooms at the top of their turn-offs list. If you’re just living in your home, keeping it clean will make it a more healthful, comfortable place to live. In addition to your regular house chores, don’t forget often overlooked tasks like cleaning the carpets and windows.

* Invest your renovation dollars wisely. Most families spend the greatest amount of their time in the kitchen and bath. It’s no surprise, then, that upgrades to these rooms consistently deliver the highest payoffs in terms of increased value and homeowner enjoyment. You’ll almost never see a model home with a common kitchen or a boring bath. If you want to evoke the drama of a model home in your own domicile, invest your remodeling budget in these two important rooms.

Recreating model home techniques in your own house can help maximize resale value and your enjoyment – and bring your abode that much closer to the ideal of the American Dream.

Fashion and home decor trends are so closely aligned now that we can add a favorite new look or color scheme to both our wardrobes and our homes at the same time. One day you’re shopping for handbags in the hottest color and the next day you find yourself reaching for pillows in a matching shade.

Spa Collection Curtains Chocolate and White Stripe Set of 2 Window Panels Coverings Treatments

List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $39.99
You Save: $10.00 (20%)

Features:
• These Spa Hotel Collection Window Treatments are 1.5 inch rod pocket panels.
• Dimensions: 42 in x 84 in
• These Window Treatments coordinate with Miller Home Fashions Spa Collection Hotel Duvet Bedding Sets
• Easy-care: Machine Washable, Hang to dry

If you’re gearing up to decorate, fashion is where to look for trends that also have staying power at home: flowers in full bloom, pink, and neutrals with metallic and pearl accents. Fashion and home products designers are reworking these familiar favorites and turning them into something new. These looks are finding expression in today’s most inspired wallpaper designs — an affordable and beautiful way to revitalize a tired-looking room.

Flowers are springing up everywhere. At the spring 2008 Paris and New York runway shows, lively tosses of oversize flowers were splashed across dresses for day and evening, coats, handbags, even shoes. In wallpaper that translates to bursts of bulbs that transform average walls into meadows of color, or single blooms silhouetted for a sparer look. Either way, the budding rebirth of blooms inside the home is a breath of fresh air.

Pink is all grown up. And while it remains the color of choice for young girls, pink’s newfound acceptance in men’s shirting and every aspect of women’s wear — from outerwear and umbrellas to handbags and heels — allows pink to go boldly where it hasn’t before in the home. Wallpapers of whisper-soft pink embellished with glass beads, bold damasks in black-and-fuchsia, and flamingo pink saturated stripes are giving rooms an elegantly updated infusion of color that’s fresh and inspired.

Long a fashion and decorating staple, neutrals have never before shone as brightly as they do now. Accented with luminescent pearl tones, metallic overlays and shimmering embellishments, these otherwise muted hues appeared on runways as lacy suits of soft gold thread and soft sequins scattered on day dresses. On the wall, patterns of understated taupe and cream are infused with pearlized inks for a look of continual candlelight, while copper and distressed silver accents lend rooms a sense of timeless glamour and a quiet roar of elegant style.

Bohemian looks in all their embellished glory have been among the most enduring trends in fashion for several seasons and are still going strong. Not defined by any one particular style, bohemian blends together different cultures and eras to create an intriguing mosaic of patterns. Whether it’s an embroidered jacket or wallpaper patterns inspired by Moroccan tiles and Indian paisleys, it’s about easy living, mixing and matching, and an “anything goes” attitude of foolproof dressing and decorating.

Agave by Jillian David Desgn 38 x 38 Fine Art Print on CANVAS

Buy New: $139.99

This print is part of our Signature Collection on Canvas and is unique from all other “canvas” products currently in the marketplace and offers superior quality. images from only our top tier of artists, and the reproduction process is overseen by specially trained personnel to ensure that the quality of the artists’ originals is matched with precision.

Each piece of art is individually ink jet printed directly onto canvas, then individually hand-embellished by trained artisans to add rich textural detail. The end quality of the signature Collection Canvas line is on a par with limited edition canvas giclees currently selling at retail for several hundred dollars each, yet is offered at a mere fraction of that cost. There is quite simply no better canvas value available. Please note that because this is an over sized package when it comes to shipping. So the combination of weight and size is what causes the shipping for this item to seem a little high. This print is drop shipped directly from our publisher. We ship insured UPS Ground.

If you are in love with the theater, be it musicals or plays, why not create unique home decor that would show off your passion? There are quite a number of ways you can easily achieve the desired look.

Use Posters and CD Covers as Wallpaper

Perhaps you have a particular room in your home that you have devoted to your theater memorabilia collection. This is the ideal place to use theater posters and CD covers as wallpaper, be it just on one wall, or, for the particularly avid theatre fan, all the walls.

Broadway - Theater Poster

List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $14.99
You Save: $5.00 (25%)

Features:
• State-of-the art DIGITAL Print
• Printed on an acid free, heavy weight paper
• Includes crystal clear display sleeve with a hanger

Title: Broadway Size and Orientation: 11″ x 17″ Portrait State-of-the art DIGITAL presses print eye popping quality! Stains and tears on the original posters have been removed so the posters look as sharp and true as the originals seen in theaters. Posters are printed on an acid free, heavy weight paper and arrive in a crystal clear display sleeve with a hanger. This Is an 11 inch x 17 inch Movie Poster Replica, Not A Jigsaw Puzzle

This idea for unique home decor is also good since it is inexpensive and you should enjoy the process of making such “wallpaper”. You just need to take all the theater posters that you have (unframed), as well as scans of album covers, and use poster putty to anchor them to the wall. To achieve the effect of wallpaper, all of the items should be places closely together in collage form.

Mirror Decorations

All theater fans have a favorite group of actors or actresses. To incorporate this into your unique home decor, you can use the Internet - visit various websites and get a bunch of solo pictures of your favorite theater stars. These pictures can be professional, candid, or a mixture of both.

Next, find a mirror that you use on a daily basis (it should be a wall or bathroom mirror). Then resize each photo that you have found so that they are about 1 inch by 1 inch. Print and cut out all of the pictures, and arrange them around the mirror for a nice theatrical frame.

Build a Library

Theater fans often have a large amount of theater books, DVDs, and albums in their collection. Such an impressive collection should be shown off in unique home decor - simply arrange them on typical linear shelving units attached to the wall. Alternatively, you can position the units like steps going up and down your wall. One more idea is to make the shelves slightly diagonal, but just be sure to have some good bookends!

More Ideas for Unique Home Decor

There are quite a lot of other interesting ideas to help you decorate your home in a theatrical fashion. Stage design books can provide some valuable tips; web search can bring good results as well. Or, being a theater lover you must have plenty of your own creative ideas to use in unique home decor. For more information on Unique Home Decor check out http://www.homedecordiscussion.com. You’ll find loads of tips and techniques plus you’ll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Home Decor Software at absolutely no cost.

For more information on Unique Home Decor check out http://www.homedecordiscussion.com . You’ll find loads of tips and techniques plus for a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Home Decor Software at absolutely no cost.

Technorati Tags: unique home decor

Shop Anmazon for wrought iron

Innova Classicor Wrought-Iron Oval Pot Rack
Amazon Price: $50.87


Customer Review: I just got this item (July 2008). The only silver parts are the chains and the metal rack that sits on top. All the hooks are now black. It was relatively easy to hang (I did it myself). I’m thinking most modern roof joist are 24″ on center so I had to spread it out a bit in one direction. The first four pictures posted are my end result.

EDIT: I want to edit this to say it is not traditional wrought iron. It looks more like painted steel and the finish is very smooth. In this way the description is misleading, but overall …

Geneva Clock Co 4479G Wrought Iron Wall Clock
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: The clock was actually 12″ overall diameter instead of the 14″ it was described as. It was printed on the factory box as a 12″ clock, it should have never been shipped. Where is my 14″ clock??

Amerock Cyprus Knot 3-Inch Pull, Dark Wrought Iron #BP19251-WID
Amazon Price: $1.08

Wrought Iron Hanging Rack
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: i used to work at a winery in nys-so i do know a bit about pricing and quality. i bought this for my parents for xmas last year. they loved it and looked great in their dinning room. just need some wine and great glasses seriously, a good deal.

Wrought Iron Rubber Entrance Mat
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: Arrived quickly in excellent condition. Adequate size for front door and very durable appearing and attractive, Just what I hoped.

Technorati Tags: wrought iron

Iron products have been around for centuries with wrought iron being used in modern times for beautiful wrought iron wall decor. A trend in interior decorating is to bring nature inside the home which can easily be done by making use of ornamental metals such as wrought iron. Because wrought iron is sturdy and long lasting, it might be called a “best price home décor” item–a bargain at any price!

Wrought iron wall décor comes in various shapes, such as, round, square, rectangular and even in the shape of a cross. Other features of wrought iron wall decor may include intricate scrolls, swirls and leaves. Wrought iron candle wall sconces and wrought iron candelabras are also popular.

Luca Bella Home Leighton Wrought Iron Wall Sconce

Buy New: $25.98 (On sale from $35.07)

Provides lovely illumination to enhance any room. Eyecatching above a fireplace or as a focal point in a room. Holds 7 tealights (not included). Measures 261/2″ x 163/4″ x 23/4″. Gift boxed 5 lbs.

Versatility is a distinct advantage of decorating with wrought iron wall décor since it can be moved from one room to another because of its neutral color. It blends with most decorating styles with the more ornate features lending itself to the old world style and with less ornate detail used in the contemporary style.

Another advantage of decorating with wrought iron wall décor is its ability to fill wall space. It can be found in large sizes which can fill up a large wall space very nicely. A grouping of smaller pieces may also be used to fill up space. The beauty of decorating with wrought iron wall décor is that it can be used in any room of the house. It looks especially nice hung on a textured wall!

Where do you find wrought iron wall décor? You will find wrought iron items at home décor stores, department stores, big box stores, on the internet, and also at some nurseries and florists. While shopping, you might also look for other wrought iron items, such as, wrought iron furniture, wrought iron wine racks, wrought iron fireplace screens and wrought iron candleholders–they all add beauty and flair to your home.

As you can see, there are many ways to use wrought iron products in your home decorating ideas. Be creative and enjoy the versatility and natural beauty of wrought iron wall décor.

Lynn Cressy is the owner of Lynns Home Decor, which was created out of a love for decorating and shopping for home decor. You will find wrought iron wall decor as well as wrought iron furniture and home decorating ideas at Lynns Home Decor.

Technorati Tags: wrought iron wall decor, interior decorating

Decoupage Art Wall Clock - “Coffee Time”

Add a spot of artistic pizazz to any wall with this wonderful “Coffee Time” clock. Each clock features a high quality reproduction of an original acrylic painting decoupaged on wood and embellished with eye-catching black and white clock hands. It easily compliments any kitchen with a cozy image of a steaming cup of coffee and a fresh combination of warm, inviting colors. Handcrafted in the USA; Requires 1 “AA” battery.

(ARA) – “Rock on” may be a uniquely American call to party, but when it comes to decorating your home, rocks, stones and pebbles can have an altogether different effect on your mood. When incorporated into your interior design efforts, stone can create a soothing effect to balance the hectic pace of modern life.

Pebbles are the latest hot trend in stone-themed home decor, and they’re showing up in everything from wall murals to pebble-textured fabrics. Decorator items made from and inspired by pebbles add a whimsical, light-hearted layer to the underlying peaceful persona of stone.

You don’t have to build a Japanese rock garden in your back yard, however, to take advantage of the pebble trend. Pebble decorator items can be found at all price points from a variety of resources, including your local home goods store and the Internet.

Here are some ideas and items for bringing pebble and stone power into your interior design:

* Check out HGTV.com, where you will find detailed instructions for creating your own pebble-topped accent table. Depending on the type of table you choose to decorate and how you obtain your pebbles, this piece can be made for less than $50. Purchase decorative pebbles at craft stores, or enlist the family to collect pretty specimens while on beach vacations, outdoor excursions or even their own back yards.

* Stone wall clocks, made from a variety of decorative rocks, are available for as little as $30 at www.Pebblez.com. The same site also sells lamps made with translucent onyx in the same price range.

* At MuralsYourWay.com, you’ll find an inspired mural of pebbles. The soothing natural colors of the stones and their gently rounded appearance, shaped by decades of flowing water, evoke a beach beside a mountain lake. The mural can be custom printed for $7.95 per square foot to fit any wall, comes in easy-to-hang panels and goes up just like wallpaper. Visit www.MuralsYourWay.com, or call (888) 235-1318.

* Designers are using pebble-themed floor tiles to add punch and definition to floor areas. For example, tiles made with natural river pebbles are a wonderfully contrasting accent to border an area of hardwood flooring. The natural qualities of the material compliment each other, while the coolness of the stone is an exciting foil to the warmth of the wood.

* Fabrics are paying homage to pebbles as well, with linens and window treatments in patterns that evoke the shape and texture of stone. For example, Pebble Earth makes a cotton/polyester blend sateen coverlet in a pebble shape quilting stitch. Machine washable, the coverlet’s design also incorporates a subtle rock hue to achieve an effect that is luxurious and modern, yet still simple and soothing.

From placemats made of pebbles to silver lamps shaped like stacked stones, pebbles are also emerging as a favorite of high-end decorators as well. Whatever your price point or design taste, you can find pebble-inspired products that will help ensure your home’s décor “rocks on” for years to come.

(ARA) – When juggling the demands of work and family, busy homeowners often reach for the ease and convenience of mass-produced decor to create an atmosphere that reflects their own personal style. However, this “one-size-fits-all” approach to home decorating can often lead to lifeless rooms that weren’t created so much to be lived in as they were to be looked at. Experts agree that avoiding a cookie cutter motif is easier than you may think.

During his recent turn on Bravo’s “Top Design” reality television series, Chicago interior designer, Erik Kolacz repeatedly demonstrated the importance of infusing personal tastes into the design of your home. “Regardless of whether you’re reworking a family heirloom to fit your decor or browsing the aisles at Target, in the end you have to live in your home,” says Kolacz. “Be patient, and stick to what appeals to you, and you can’t go wrong.”

Kolacz suggested that one of the easiest ways to work personal style into home decor is through thoughtful choices in unframed artwork. “Utilizing the skill and expertise of a custom framer makes a huge difference in how well a piece will fit into your space,” says Kolacz. “When choosing a custom framing professional to assist you, look for a framer that asks questions about where the piece will be and not just the piece itself.”

As the owner of The Designer’s Wall Gallery in Birmingham, Mich., Bonnie Palizzi concurs. “There are so many things a professional custom framer can offer to enhance your art as well as complement your interior design,” says Palizzi. “A custom framer should be thinking about several things before they even suggest a design, including the art, the space where it will hang and the personality of the room.” Palizzi even goes so far as to offer home visits to her customers, but acknowledges that this is not always a possibility. She suggested that one good way to ensure that the framing size will fit is to request a paper template that can be used to “test-out” the space. “There’s no better way to make sure that what you and your framer have designed will really work than to have a visual to hang on the wall that you can step back and take a look at,” says Palizzi.

Consider a few of these additional tips from Palizzi for creating a unique home environment that matches your distinctive style:

1. Remember that the frame and mat should complement the art, not compete with it for attention. “You want to pull the eye to the art, not the framing,” says Palizzi. “The frame and the matting should never be the focus.”
2. Size your piece to balance with the architecture in the room. “In a room with high ceilings, a solitary piece should be large enough not to get lost in the extra space,” says Palizzi. You can create a larger look by using a larger mat design. “Crescent offers matboards in a variety of textures and colors that make it very easy to achieve this without sacrificing the integrity of the art,” says Palizzi.
3. When framing, consider the room color and the particular space where the piece will be hung. “The eye will naturally go to the darkest spot if the room is light, and vice versa,” says Palizzi. “Your framing should create a balance with the room’s decor.”
4. Don’t make the mistake of limiting framing to canvas or paper artwork only. Palizzi has framed everything from silverware to fishing lures to musical instruments. “You might be surprised at how many things a custom framer can work with,” says Palizzi. “And, often, these kinds of pieces make the most beautiful statements.”

Finally, Palizzi recommends choosing a custom framing professional that guarantees your satisfaction with the finished piece. “If for some reason you find that the piece doesn’t fit with your space, the advantage of working with a custom framer is that most are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you’re happy,” says Palizzi. “They’ve also got the advantage of having high quality materials that come with their own guarantee available to them. For example, Crescent’s 100 percent cotton RagMat matboards are guaranteed safe next to any artwork for life. You can’t beat that!”

For more information about custom framing, visit www.crescentcardboard.com or contact a professional framer in your area.